moving across the white paper behind the little window. Gross. “You don’t want kids?”
“Not right now,” I cry and run my fingers through my hair. “It’s… we can’t afford a kid. We’re both in University. I don’t want to give up my education.” How did this even happen? “I haven’t missed a pill. Not one. I haven’t been sick, I haven’t had any kind of medication that can mess with it and I haven’t suddenly changed my eating habits. I don’t get it.” I look at him, directing my anger at him because it needs to go somewhere. “You know how vigilant I am. You know.”
“We’ll figure it out.” He looks way too happy about this. Way too happy. He picks up the stick after a few more moments and compares it to the back of the box that I dropped on my way in. His smile widens. “It’s positive.”
Sob.
His arms wrap around me. “It’ll be fine. We’ll figure it out, I promise. I love you so much, Gwenny.”
This only makes me sob harder. I don’t want a baby right now. I want to finish school and get married and all of the other stuff that comes with growing up.
“We’re still kids,” I sniff and wipe my nose on a piece of tissue. “We need to deal with this. I can’t be more than a couple of weeks. I’ve only missed one period.”
His eyes darken to an intensity I’ve never seen before. I wish I hadn’t blurted that out so callously. “Deal with it? What do you mean deal with it?”
I tread cautiously, my words soft and hopefully convincing. “The doctor can have it solved in no time. It’s just a minor problem and then, as soon as I finish University and we have our own house and jobs, we can try again. Obviously we’ll be married then too.”
He stares at me, his mouth hanging open in shock.
I continue. “It’s what’s best, Caleb.”
Pain flits through his beautiful brown eyes, his hands fisting on the counter in front of him.
“It sucks, if it’s… look,” I sigh, hating that I’ve put this look on his face. “We’ll talk about it later. I have to get to class.”
I throw my bag over my shoulder and lean down to touch my lips to his unresponsive ones. He doesn’t look at me and of course this worries me, but I have a test in twenty minutes. I need to go.
On the way to class I meet up with my closest friend Sasha. I admire her hair choice of the day; it hangs in loose, blonde waves to her shoulders and a black clip holds her fringe out of her eyes. “Hey!” She grins and links her arm through mine. “How’s tricks?”
“Same old,” I lie but she doesn’t see through it. “I’m so not looking forward to this test. Have you got a placement sorted yet?”
“Me too and nope. We aren’t all as fortunate or as smart as you,” she jokes and elbows me in the ribs playfully. “How’s the husband?”
“He’s fine.” I lie again and again she doesn’t see through it. “He’s got a placement at Anderson’s firm. He’ll finish his remaining year there.”
She shakes her head. “I’m so jealous.”
“Of?”
“Your life, it’s so organised and you know what you’re doing. Not to mention the fact you have the best guy in the world and he worships you.”
HA! How wrong she is right now. Still, I reassure her as a good friend does. “You’ll get sorted, babe. You’ll see; it’ll all work out in the end.”
“Hey, Tommy!” She calls to our classmate. He races over to us, breaks our link and shoves himself in the middle. His arms curl around our necks. “How are the two most beautiful females on campus this morning?”
“Fabulous,” Sasha responds and smiles up at him. “Where’s your woman?” He met a very nice girl called Maci at my birthday party two months ago and they’ve been dating steadily ever since. I’m happy for him; they’re a good match.
“Over there.” He points to a group heading into the building. “Hey, sexy!” His girlfriend rolls her eyes but I see her smile and know all is well. “Got to go if I want to get me a little somethin’ somethin’ before my next lecture.”
“Your next lecture is in three hours,” I laugh, knowing my friend’s schedules by heart. That’s just how organised I am.
“Exactly. It’s just not long enough.” He races away and waves over his shoulder.